Clutch and bearing structure



Aug. 28, 1945. A. Y. DODGE 2,383,595

CLUTCH ANIS BEARING STRUCTURE F l d M h 8 1943 is formed throughout its Patented Aug. 28, 1945 UNITED STATES PATEN 1 OFFICE This invention relates to clutch and bearing structure and more particularly to a cage for use with bearings, clutches or combined clutch and bearing units.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a, clutch and bearing structure in which the cage is formed of one piece. According to one feature, the cage is formed of a single piece of sheet metal simply and inexpensively fabricated to any desired size and providing a rigid integral construction having no joints or connections to work loose.

'. Another object of the invention is to provide a combined clutch and bearing structure in which the maximum capacity is obtained in minimum size due to the fact that minimum space is lost in the construction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a clutch and bearing structure in which the clutch grippers are supported by the cage against radial movement in response to centrifugal force to reduce the centrifugal load on the outer race.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch and bearing structure in which springs urging the grippers to engaged position are supported on the cage by simplehook extensions. The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which-- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a combined clutch and bearing unit on the broken line i -i of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a view on the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a partial elevation illustrating the steps of forming the cage;

Figure 4 is a partial perspective showing the spring mounting; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2. v

The unit illustrated in the drawing is adapted to connect an inner race it and an outer cylindrical race not shown for free rolling movement in one direction and to clutch them together against relative rotation in the opposite direction. The unit as shown comprises an annular cage formed by an annular sheet Ii of metal or other desired sheet material having flanges 42 at its opposite sides to stiflen and strengthen it. The ring ii circumference with a series of small openings is adjacent its edges to receive bearing rollers is. The rollers M are formed in their opposite ends with axial depressions is to receive tongues is integral with the sheet and projecting into the depressions. One oi the tongues i6 01 each pair is formed at its ends with slits ll alined with its edges to increase its eflective length so that it can be bent out of the sheet to openings. The sheet is further formed with a series of openings l8 to receive clutch grippers. These openings are formed as shown in Figure 3, by first punching out a partial opening IS in the sheet and slitting the sheet along the lines 2| to leave a flap portion 22 connected to the sheet at its center with its ends severed therefrom and spaced from the line of connection. The flap portion 22 is thereafter bent inwardly to form an inwardly extending flange as seen in Figures 1 and 4. It will be noted that a flange of this type is provided at one side of each of the openings i8 and is formed with its center portion integrally connected to the sheet and with its end portions spaced therefrom. a

The flanges formed by flaps 22 give depth to the cage and serve to support springs 23 for biasing the grippers aswill appear hereinafter. The springs as best seen in Figure 4, are leaf springs and are formed at their ends with hook portions 24 which hook over the free ends or the flaps 22 to support the springs.

Sprags or grippers 25 are mounted in the openings i8 and as shown, comprise elongated members having flat parallel sides with their ends curved on arcs about spaced centers. The ends of the sprags are formed with depressions 26 extending crosswise thereof and having curved sides as shown to permit turning of the sprags.

The grippers are held in place in the cage by integral tongues 21 formed on the sheet II and projecting into the depressions 26. The sheet is slit as shown, at Ziadjacent the sides of one of the tongues so that it can be bent out of the plane of the sheet more readily for assembly of the grippers. By accurately proportioning and locating the grooves 26 and the tongues 21, it will be seen that the outward movement of the grippers they will be held in a position to engage more quickly, the cage is preferably onset to engage the permit assembly of the bearings in the opposite sides of the sprags above and below their rotating axes respectively. For this purpose the cage is slit at 3| at the edges of openings is opposite the flanges 22 and is bent up as shown at 32 in Figure 5 to engage the gripper hold it in a position in which it can move quicklyinto engagement with the races. Tilting of the sprags in the opposite direction when the unit is not assembled between races is limited by engagement of the Sides of grooves 26 with the tongues 21 so that the sprags cannot be tilted the wrong way during assembly.

Another and more important function of the tongues or lugs Hand 33 is to cause the sprags to engage quickly due to impulse or inertia effects. If the cage is accelerated clockwise as seen in Figure 5, the tongue 33 will strike the left side of the sprag below center and tilt it counterclockwise into engaging position. Similarly if the cage is accelerated counterclockwise or is decelerated clockwise the tongue 32 will strike the right side of the sprag above center and tilt it counterclockwise into engaged position. Thus an impulse lo'ad applied to the races in either direction will cause the cage to accelerate or decelerate and will apply a tilting force to the sprags to move them quickly into engaged position so that the clutch will function under impulse loads with a minimum of lost motion.

In building up a unit as shown, the sheet ll may be cut to the desired length and may, if preferred, be punched prior to rolling it into an annulus or may be punched after being so rolled. The ends of the sheets are connecte by welding ends thereof to engage and support a member fitting in the opening, the ring being slit adjacent the edges oi one of the tongues whereby it can be bent out of the ring to permit insertion of the member in the opening.

2. A cage for bearings and the like comprising an annular ring of sheet material having portions thereof partially severed from r the sheet and pressed in to form openings with axially extending flanges at one side thereof, to receive grippers and with separate openings spaced axially of the first named openings to receive bearing elements, the sheet being formed at the opposite ends oi each of the openings with axially extending tongues to engage and support the bearing elements and grippers.

3. A clutch and bearing structure comprising an annular ring of sheet material having a series of openings around its periphery, cylindrical bearing members in certain of the openings having axial depressions in their ends, elongated grippers in the remaining openings having central depressions in their ends, and tongues integral with the sheet projecting loosely into the depressions to hold the bearing members and grippers assembled in the ring, the ring being slit adjacent and in line with the edges of one of the tongues adjacent each opening wherebyit can be bent out of the ring to permit insertion or the like along a line 29 and the flanges l2 are 7 formed on the sheet so that it provides an integral stifl ring. During the punching operation, the tongues i6 and 21 which have been slit as at IT and 28 may be pressed down out of the sheet so that the bearings and grippers may be inserted in the proper openings and the tongues 32 and 33 may be oflset from the sheet as shown. After the bearings and grippers are in place, the bent down tongues may be bent back into the line of the sheet to enter the depressions i5 and 26 thereby holding the rollers an grippers in place. The unit may thereafter be inserted between cylindrical races and is ready for operation.

It will be noted that the bearing rollers- I are of relatively short length so that they roll independently and are widely spaced axially of the races to provide good support. Also in this construction, the rollers operate on a different portion of the races than the grippers so that a smooth rolling action is provided even after the parts have worn.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown an described in detail, it will be apparent that this is illustrative only and is not to be taken as a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Acage for bearings and the like comprising an annular ring of sheet material formed with openings in its periphery and having tongues pr0-' jecting inwardly of the openings at the opposite of the bearing members and grippers in the openmgs.

4. A clutch and bearing structure comprising an annular ring of sheet material having a series of openings around its periphery, an inwardly extending flange at one side of each of the openings, grippers fitting in the openings, and a leaf spring carried by each of the flanges and engaging the adjacent gripper to urge it toward gripping position.

5. A clutch and bearing structure comprising an annular ring of sheet material having a series of openings around its periphery, an inwardly extending flange at one side of each of the openings connected to the ring at its central portion and having its ends free, grippers fitting in the openings, and curved leaf springs having-hook portions at their ends hooking over the ends of the flanges with their central portions engaging the adjacent grippers and urging them toward gripping position.

6. A clutch and bearing structurecomprising an annular ring of sheet material having a series of openings around its periphery, an inwardly extending flange at one side of each of the openings connected to the ring at its central portion and having its ends free, grippers fitting in the openings, the grippers being formed in their opposite ends with depressions, tongues integral with the sheet projecting into the depressions to hold the grippers assembled in the ring, and curved leaf springs having hook portions at their ends hooking over the ends of the flanges with their central portions engaging the grippers and tending to rock them about axes parallel to the axis of the ring.

7. A clutch and bearing structure comprising an annular ring of sheet material having a series of openings around its periphery, tiltable grippers mounted in the openings, the sheet being bent outwardly at one side of each opening and inwardly at the opposite side of each opening to engage the grippers on opposite sides of their tilting axes.

8. A clutch and bearing structure comprising an annular ring of sheet material having a series of openings around its periphery, tiltable rippers mounted in the openings, the sheet being bent outwardly at one side of each opening and in-.-

, an annular cage having a series of openings of wardly at the opposite side of each opening to engage the grippers on opposite sides of their tilting axes, thereby to urge the grippers toward gripping position, the grippers having transverse grooves in their ends, and tongues on the sheet I fitting into the grooves to hold the grippers assembled in the sheet and to limit tilting thereof.

9. A clutch and bearing structure comprising an annular cage having a series of openings adja cent its edge of relatively short axial extent and a series of longer openings spaced axially from the first named openings, bearing rollers of short axial length relative to their diameter in the first name series of openings and tiltable grippers in said longer openings.

10. A clutch and bearing structure comprising relatively short axial length adjacent each of its edges, the openings adjacent one edge being staggered circumferentially relative to those adjacent a second series of openings of longer axial extent,

bearing rollers of short axial length relative to their diameter in said one series of openings, tilta'ble grippers in the second series of openings, and means engageable with the bearing rollers and grippers to hold them in the cage.

ADIEL Y. DODGE. 

